FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF STRESS AND CONTACT PRESSURE IN STEEL PLATES UNDER VARYING FRICTION COEFFICIENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the friction coefficient on stress distribution and contact pressure in numerical simulations of contact between two plates under vertical loading and specified displacement. Using the finite element method (FEM), the plates are analysed with friction coefficients varying from 0.1 to 0.9. The analysis includes three different mesh densities and two types of finite elements to assess the influence of mesh refinement and element type on the accuracy of the results. The results indicate that friction significantly affects the stress distribution and contact pressure, with notable differences observed as the friction coefficient increases. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate mesh density and element type to ensure the accuracy of the simulations, contributing to a better understanding of frictional contact in engineering applications. The findings are valuable for optimizing material design and contact mechanics in practical applications, where accurate predictions of material behaviour are essential for performance and durability.